The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-10-15
CITlCAGO'S CHINATOWN.
ODD AND INTERESTING THINGS
SEEN DURING A RAMBLE.

SEEN DURING A RAMBLE.
The Stock of Chinese store-Cclestial
Scales and Calculating Machines-Chi-
caso's Only Chinese Naby-Supersti-
tious Wearing of IL Bracelet.
The San Franciscan and the genial police
nan started off together, but soon stopped i'll
front of Il window bearing n sign announc-
ing that the combined laundry business and
restaurant was carried on within. The door
was locked, however, and loud knocks OF the
policeman's club failed to develop any signs
of life They aren't up yet said the club
man. None of those fellows go to bed be-
fore = o'clock in the morning. and they don't
set up ,il! late. Come across tho street"
Across the street they went, and entered
the ,"'' of Chinese merchant The au-
n"uurement that one of his visitors was from
California, and was acquainted with all ell
terlmlsins and we'll known Celestial there by
the name of Tin 10y, gained for them the
freedom of tho place and the most hosptable
treatment. Cigars Were produced by the
host, and accepted with promise to smoke
store WAS found to consist entirely of goods
imported from China. 1t comprises, among
other things, queer nuts and dried fruits,
jars and bottles of rico vinegar, great
packages of herbs of supposed medicinal
value, cocoanut made into long strips and
dipped i'll sugar, dried SEA fish, flat and
almost Transparent China melons from
New Orleans, egg plant, etc Thepropretor
claims that the only reason Americans do not
buy these articles is TINT they do not know
how to use them. If you nsk the use of al
most any of the green on dried stuff found i'll
place of this kind the almost invariable an
swcr is. ''ro make soup" 1t is feared that
queer looking jars or bottles in such all es-
tablishnent occasionally contain whisky
made from rice. AT least tho Cinnamon
seem to be familiar with such an article.
Heap stong. Makee dunk, alice same Mel
lean whisky"
The only weighing apparatus to he found
in Chinese grocery is very primitive The
article to be weighed is put i'll the basket.
One Of tho strings is taken i'll one hand, aud
the suspended weight is slipped along with
til" other until it balances the article in the
basket. Little marks along the arm indicate
lllercnt weights, and the ring from which
the iron balance is suspended marks the num-
Der to be read Off. This contrivance, Of
course, gives the exact weight, and henco in
this respect is IL great Improvement OH some
Of the more modern devices in Use by many
American grocers.
John said the Californian, there is Que
thing wish You would explain to me, and
that is your system OF counting. | have
heard il explained, hut could never under
,tnndit."
The first lesson was cheerfully given, and
i'll so skillful and intelligent manner that it
was understood. The American, who has O
lccent reputation for expertness i'll figures,
was given column of dollars and cents to
add. There would be II little rattling and u
flying of fingers, and before ho could even
get the figures down he would be given tho
correct sum by tho Chinanan.
In the back room breakfast was in progress,
In addition to tho rice ther. wcre several
mysterious looking dishes discussed with
spoon, made Of chnaware. The merchant
informed his visitors that everything OH tho
table except tho bowls came from China
How many Chinawomcn are there in
town, Joln.' asked tho San Franciscan, re-
nembrring his own city and her llllspeakable
plague spot. He was informed that there
are only three or four. and a very ingenious
reason was given, but llo was unable to tell
whether it WAS founded Oh truth or on the
pride of tho willy Celestial 1t was, in sub
stance, this: The reputation of the China
women who como to this country is, as every
| ono knows, in one sense Of the term, uI1ques-
tionablc. The men who come to New York
| and Chcago arc more moral class, and
| they will not allow the women here.
Speaking of women reminded the officer
that he knew the abode Of q celebrated Bene-
dick, and lie proposed visit thlther. In the
basement of u house on Van Buren, street the
family man was found asleep upon peculiar
couch nude Of four short posts, covered with
bamboo mating imported from China. In
his arms was bundle that looked like
small lag filled with something, and that's
about what it was. When tho nun started
up, somewhat suddenly, the bundle proved to
contain, among other things, as cute and III
lirulous little pieco Of humanity us ever
cried in the middle Of the night. When you
said it was pretty its father Immediately
ceased to be John ChinanIan, and became
man. He made it show OF in manner that
would have caused u white father Of an
eighteen months old baby to turn green
with envy. 1t said things in Chinese
md English. threw kisses, made gurgling
sounds with its hand to its mouth, and per-
formed other baby fcats OF II high order.
Will" the father was thus engaged, its
lnDtnf, VINO Is generally invisible, ana who
docs not speak English at all, was forced into
view 10y hcr maternal pride and by the fear
that lie baby WAS not being shown off TO the
best advantage. The mother is China
woman, statement that is not so unneces-
sary might AT first thought appear 1t is
pretty li.hHa girl It's nume is Kun Lien,
which, when properly pronounced by its
mother. sounds musical. Its eyes and long
lair are black, uud its uniformed childish
face, as is generally the case, has not taken
on yet tin. distinguishing features Of the race.
Tho fathc. on his wrist u ring or
bracelet Of some kind Of Chinese stone, which
he has worn for over twenty years.
"You seeyelly many thing" said lie i'll ex-
panution, sin the day time. Slam loud all
night, You subee slam: Siam allie same
dean. Wear this ling, no siam"
This was something new. DO you mean
TO say" he was asked that so long as you
wear this ring you won't dream.'
Well lie replied cautiously, intent upon
defending his superstition, slam some, no
slam vely much. No wear ling, slam more"
-Chicago Herald.
Electricity and Ice Cream.